Houston Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Houston Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 2
BBVA Compass Stadium - Houston
6:00 pm ET – March 10, 2018
WATCH: TSN 1/4 (In Canada), MLS LIVE

When the Houston Dynamo decimated Atlanta United FC Saturday, the result reverberated throughout Major League Soccer. But the talk focused more on how and why Atlanta lost rather than Houston’s performance in a 4-0 victory.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest a little more than 24 hours later, teenager Alphonso Davies had a goal and an assist and Kei Kamara scored his first goal on his Whitecaps FC debut in a tidy 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact at BC Place.

With attacking options galore on both sides, there could be some fireworks deep in the heart of Texas.

Houston Dynamo

Wilmer Cabrera’s side picked apart an Atlanta team some consider an MLS Cup contender, scoring three times inside the opening half-hour before Darwin Ceren put the finishing touches on a dominant first 45 minutes with a stoppage-time strike. Alberth Elis didn’t score a goal, but the Honduran ran Atlanta’s defense ragged, finishing with a pair of assists.

Elis and Philippe Senderos were both named to the Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 1.

The Dynamo are hoping their trend of home success against the Whitecaps continues. Houston have never lost to Vancouver at home (4W-0L-1D) and have not conceded more than one goal in any of five home games. The Dynamo lost just once at BBVA Compass Stadium

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), D - George Malki (concussion), M - Juan David Cabezas (left quad strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Chris Seitz — Kevin Garcia, Adolfo Machado, Philippe Senderos, DaMarcus Beasley — Eric Alexander, Darwin Ceren — Alberth Elis, Oscar Boniek Garcia, Andrew Wenger — Mauro Manotas

Notes: Three Houston players recorded two goals and assists in the first week: Andrew Wenger (1G, 1A), Philippe Senderos (1G, 1A), and Alberth Elis (2A). Only six other players in the league recorded at least two goals and assists through the first week.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

There were a number of new faces in the starting XI, but one very familiar one belonged to Davies, and the Homegrown phenom didn’t disappoint with a goal — the 17-year-old’s first MLS tally — and an assist on Kamara’s first goal for the ‘Caps in a 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact. The two are quickly becoming a dynamic duo.

“We hit it off on the right foot,” said Davies, who was named to the Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 1. “When he first came in we got used to each other quickly. During training we practice crossing and finishing all the time. I didn’t hesitate when I saw him in the box to put it there for him.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Aly Ghazal (left hamstring strain), D - Doneil Henry (left hamstring strain), D - Brett Levis (left quad strain)

Projected Starting XI
(4-1-4-1 right to left)
GK: Stefan Marinovic — Jake Nerwinski, Kendall Waston, Aaron Maund, Marcel de Jong — Russell Teibert — Cristian Techera, Efrain Juarez, Yordy Reyna, Alphonso Davies — Kei Kamara

Notes: Vancouver ended last season losing four of their last six road games (2W), scoring just four goals over that stretch.

All-Time Series

Overall: Dynamo 4 wins, 13 goals … Whitecaps FC 6 wins, 15 goals … Ties 1
At Houston: Dynamo 4 wins, 12 goals … Whitecaps FC 0 wins, 3 goals … Ties 1
Last meeting at Houston: Houston Dynamo 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 (May 12, 2017)